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A cursed title?

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This very informative BBC documentary, presented by Dr. Bendor Grosvenor, showed how a portrait, presently on display in Glasgow, was proved to be an original Rubens.  George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, was a courtier and soldier, serving under both James VI/I and Charles I as well as being a possible partner of the former. He was assassinated in 1628 and the portrait (left) dates from about three years before this.

Villiers’ line fared no better than their predecessors in their tenure of the Buckingham title. Just as two of the three Stafford Dukes were executed and one killed at Northampton over their 67 years, Villiers’ son went into exile in France after serving in Charles II’s “CABAL” – he left no male heir and both his brothers had already died without issue. The title was recreated, with Normanby, for John Sheffield in 1703 but his male line expired in 1735 whilst Richard Grenville’s family held it, with Chandos, from 1822-89.

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  1. Gary Avatar
    Gary

    The bad luck proceeded the title being raised to a Dukedom. Thomas of Woodstock, fifth and youngest son of Edward III, was created Earl of Buckingham by his nephew Richard II in 1377. He later led the Lords Appellant against Richard who years later had him murdered in Calais. His grandson was the first Duke of Buckingham killed at Northampton. .

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    1. hoodedman1 Avatar
      hoodedman1

      Indeed, Woodstock seems to have certain personality traits that were seen in some of his descendants as well!

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      1. super blue Avatar
        super blue

        The new series of this began last Wednesday, again on BBC4 at nine.

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